MAKING 'sexual grooming' of those aged under 16 a new offence in the Penal Code adds early deterrence to any effort to render the virtual world as safe as, if not safer than, the real world for the young.

Its enactment will recognise the reality that sexual predators have more opportunity, find it easier and are more difficult to detect in perpetrating their crime than was the case before the Internet became a big part of everyday life.

The provision makes intention as well as the abuse itself actionable, thus closing a loophole in current laws. Police have reportedly found it difficult to arrest men just for asking girls to meet them for sex, and have had to wait until they commit or are about to commit the act, such as removing their victim's clothing.

The new section makes it an offence for adults to intentionally meet or to travel with the intention of meeting their prey after getting in touch with them on two or more occasions. Predators will face up to three years in jail and/or be fined even if no sex took place.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee on law and home affairs, has pointed out there have not been many sexual grooming cases, although online or phone chatline rendezvous-rape of mostly teenagers went up to 13 cases in 2005, from five in 2004.

There are probably numerous other cases, including attempted rape and molestation, that were not reported.

Dangers certainly lurk. Parents also could hardly find it reassuring that 16 per cent of 1,124 youths aged between 12 and 17 surveyed three years ago met strangers in person after encountering them online, and 22 per cent of them did so alone.

Singapore teenagers might have become more aware of the dangers since, and parents might be exercising greater control over their online activity. However, more and more young people are spending more and more time online, often wirelessly outside the home and beyond parental supervision.

The erstwhile Parents Advisory Group for the Internet (PAGi) made a good start in encouraging the young to bear online safety first in mind, and empowering parents with the skills, including technical know-how, to keep them out of trouble.

The awareness and education efforts continue, with 'cyber wellness' initiatives in and out of schools that include learning about Internet safety.

Such efforts are probably the most effective against online sexual trawling, but for those whom online sex fiends might still lure astray, the deterrence in the new law will provide a measure of safeguard.